today, just a few hours before the debate started. romney did his debate prep in denver. when you go to 5,000 feet -- >> exactly. >> -- and you only have a few hours to adjust -- >> that's interesting. >> i don't know. >> oh, boy. that was former vice president al gore with what you would call one of the more creative explanations for president obama's denver debate performance. let's bring back our panel. j jim, karen, and matt. what did you get out of that? >> i love this is not a time for politics. there's 30 days left before the election. everything is a time for politics. i get why he said it, absolutely, but, look, this is, i think, president obama needed something at the end of the week after what i think was not disastrous but certainly not a good debate performance. >> you said he had the worst week in washington. >> he looked -- >> i would say -- >> that's a little -- >> i said he looked unhappy. >> we've been talking for the last couple days about all of the lies that romney told on the stage. come on, he might have had a good performance -- >> both candidates